Details on 86 Harassment, an industry-wide initiative to address sexual harassment in beverage alcohol

Statistics show that harassment is very prevalent in the beverage, alcohol and hospitality industries, with higher incidents of workplace harassment compared to other industries; according to Restaurant Opportunities Center United, 9 in 10 women in hospitality have been sexually harassed on the job, compared to 3 in 10 in the general workforce.

Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS), a global membership organization dedicated to empowering and advancing women in the beverage alcohol industry, announced an industry-wide initiative to address sexual harassment and gender-based violence within the beverage alcohol and hospitality industries.

That initiative, 86 Harassment, has been in development since 2020 with corporate catalyst funding from Women of the Vine & Spirits and Pernod Ricard North America. The goal of 86 Harassment is to co-create an action plan aimed at reducing incidents of harassment and violence that can then be duplicated by other industries worldwide to foster safer environments for employees and customers alike.

Beyond the moral imperative, 86 Harassment recognizes the critical business imperatives associated with combating workplace harassment. Research underscores the detrimental impact of harassment on employee satisfaction, productivity, hiring, retention rates, and company reputation, highlighting the urgent need for industry-wide action.

“This first-of-its-kind coordinated effort with Industry Association Partners and Corporate Sponsors stems from our belief that every individual deserves a safe and respectful workplace free of sexual harassment,” said Deborah Brenner, Founder & CEO, Women of the Vine & Spirits and Diverse Powered Brands. “Thanks to Pernod Ricard North America, the corporate catalyst sponsor, 86 Harassment serves as an industry-wide resource to help guide companies and employees on the path to prevention.”

This week, a few more Industry Association and Corporate Partners came on board:

• Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
• Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
• Pernod Ricard North America
• Republic National Distributing Company

“As a leading voice in the beverage alcohol industry, we recognize the importance of addressing sexual harassment and gender-based violence,” said Kayla Campbell, Vice President, Total Talent, Diversity & Enterprise-Wide Development Pernod Ricard North America. “Through our sponsorship of 86 Harassment, we are committed to driving meaningful change and promoting a culture of respect and dignity across our industry. We encourage others to join us in this critical movement.”

86 Harassment will support employers and employees with the following free resources:

Customized Training for the beverage alcohol and hospitality industries on setting boundaries and bystander intervention, including “Creating A Safer Community,” developed and conducted by RAINN.

Industry-specific Dedicated Confidential Crisis Intervention Hotline operated by staff at RAINN. Telephone Crisis Intervention Services available in English and Spanish. The hotline staff are available 24/7 to support communities with industry-specific crisis intervention, empathetic listening, and warm handoffs to designated local service providers. The Hotline provides quality, anonymous, and confidential crisis intervention services in English and Spanish to support survivors within our industries.

Centralized Resource Hub including glossary key terms and phrases, articles, reports, newsletters, and educational resources for anyone in the beverage alcohol and hospitality industries. Handouts, toolkits, postcards, flyers, stickers, posters, available to download, print and post on walls on-premise, off-premise, offices and use at conferences, and events.

“At RAINN, we understand the profound impact of sexual harassment and violence on individuals and communities,” said Rajit Kabadi, Chief Consulting Officer of RAINN Consulting Group. “We are proud to be sought out by and lend our expertise to 86 Harassment to provide crucial resources and training to industry professionals, fostering environments where everyone feels valued and protected.”

Any other interested Industry Association Partners and Corporate Sponsors are invited to join 86 Harassment by committing to financial support, gaining industry-wide recognition, and participating in the initiative’s council.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, anonymous 24/7 support in English or Spanish via phone at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat via the online hotline.